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When Do I Prune Raspberries in the Northwest?

Raspberries varieties such as Willamette, Meeker and Sumner are grown in the Northwest, according to Washington State University. Annual pruning must be conducted at the right time for your cultivar of raspberries. There are two types of raspberries -- summer and fall bearing -- that require different pruning practices. Furthermore, gardeners must prune their raspberry plants at the right time in the Northwest to achieve a productive crop for either kind of raspberry.
  1. Summer Bearing

    • Prune summer bearing and fall bearing raspberries in the early spring when your plants are still dormant. Gardeners in the Northwest may prune their plants between January through early March. Spring pruning removes any canes that have been damaged during the winter. Cut again after your harvest in the summer. Because summer bearing raspberries produce one harvest, gardeners must remove all canes that are over two years old. Raspberries do not produce fruit on any canes over two years old.

    Fall Bearing

    • Fall bearing raspberries are pruned in the spring, summer after harvest and fall after the last harvest. Raspberry plants that produce two harvests should have their two-year-old canes removed in July, according to Oregon State University. The fall harvest will sprout from canes that grew that season. These canes will produce again next summer. Those wanting only one harvest from fall bearing raspberries can cut their raspberries in the spring down to the ground.

    Black and Purple Raspberries

    • Black and purple raspberries are pruned at different times than other raspberry types. These raspberry cultivars are pruned in the spring to remove all damaged canes and any cane that has a diameter less than 1/2 inch. During the late spring or summer, the top of new growth is reduced by 3 to 4 inches to increase lateral branching, according to Oregon State University. Prune off all two-year-old canes after your black and purple raspberries harvest.

    Other Factors

    • Gardeners often lose their raspberry plants to diseases, especially during the rainy season in the Northwest. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and anthracnose easily germinate and spread during moist weather conditions. To save damaged raspberry plants, prune away any diseased portions of the plant when you notice diseases. Monitor plants for signs of disease such as fungal growth, discoloration, sunken lesions in stems and abnormal raspberry growth. Sterilize your bypass shears to prevent spreading any diseases.